Seraikela Chhua Workshop and Performance at Indian Music Experience (IME), Bengaluru

On 30 and 31 August 2025, the Indian Music Experience Museum hosted a two-day engagement with the Seraikela Chhau tradition, featuring a workshop and performance by Kush Kumar Karua & team. Originating in the royal courts of Seraikela (Jharkhand), this UNESCO-recognized art form is distinguished by its martial roots, stylised body movements, and the expressive use of masks in place of facial gestures.

Through hands-on learning in the workshop and an immersive performance accompanied by traditional instruments such as the flute, dhol, shehnai, and dhamsa, visitors experienced both the rigour and the poetry of this unique dance form.

The event highlighted the importance of bringing diverse cultural traditions into dialogue with contemporary audiences. By offering exposure to heritage practices that are rarely seen outside their regions, IME continues to foster connections, broaden understanding, and celebrate India’s living cultural wealth.